BAYELSA NGO TRAINS ADVOCACY LEADERS IN SALT REDUCTION AHEAD OF STATEWIDE HEALTH CAMPAIGN

Yenagoa, Nigeria
Saturday, June 14, 2025

In a proactive effort to tackle the growing health risks associated with excessive salt consumption, I Care – Save A Soul Initiative, powered by Global Care Rescue Mission (GCRM), has launched an advocacy campaign to promote salt reduction across Bayelsa State. The first phase of the campaign kicked off with a one-day intensive training session for advocacy team members in Yenagoa, on Thursday,12th June 2025.

Held at the initiative’s office on Saptex Road in Okaka, Yenagoa, the training was led by Mr. Titus Seribo Godspower, Executive Director (ED) and Amb. Elizabeth Egba, Coordinator. The session brought together expert advocates, media professionals, community organisers, and health educators who will form the vanguard of the campaign.

Mr. Godspower outlined the strategic vision for the project, designating Bayelsa State as the pilot zone, with a focus on three key local government areas: Kolokuma/Opokuma, Yenagoa, and Southern Ijaw—all within the Bayelsa Central Senatorial District. He emphasised the initiative’s alignment with public health goals to combat hypertension and other non-communicable diseases linked to high sodium intake.

“The campaign aims to drive behavioural change through informed advocacy, community mobilisation, and strategic stakeholder engagement. Our goal is to empower communities with knowledge and tools to make healthier dietary choices,” said Mr. Godspower during his opening address.

INTEGRATING POLICY ADVOCACY FOR LASTING IMPACT

A major thrust of the salt reduction initiative is its strong focus on influencing the policy environment. The campaign is designed not only to educate communities but also to advocate for stronger regulatory frameworks that will sustain long-term health improvements. This includes:

Promoting Evidence-Based Policy Dialogues: The initiative will facilitate policy roundtables and town hall meetings to foster collaboration between lawmakers, government parastatals, civil society, health institutions, and regulatory agencies. These platforms will encourage the adoption of sodium reduction guidelines and food labelling regulations that align with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.

Strengthening Local Health Governance: By engaging Ministries of Health, Education, and Agriculture, the campaign seeks to mainstream sodium reduction into state-level health policies and public education programs. Advocacy efforts will push for the inclusion of salt-reduction awareness in school curricula, the packaging industry and community health initiatives.

Regulatory Engagement with Food Sector: A strategic component of the campaign involves initiating discussions with food producers, distributors, and regulatory bodies such as NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) to explore salt content regulation, mandatory labelling practices, and healthier food standards.

Monitoring and Policy Accountability: The project will develop advocacy scorecards and community-led monitoring tools to track the responsiveness of local authorities and food companies in implementing salt reduction standards.

TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY AND POLICY INFLUENCE

The training curriculum covered a wide range of advocacy tactics and communication strategies, including:

Stakeholder Sensitisation and Engagement: Building partnerships with political leaders, government officials, traditional rulers, the clergy, health professionals, and civil society.

Community and Media Advocacy: Leveraging local media platforms and grassroots organisations to amplify the campaign’s message.

Countering Food Industry Tactics: Identifying and addressing commercial strategies that promote high-sodium food products.

Public Forums and Policy Dialogues: Organising town halls and community forums to raise awareness and drive institutional change.

Mass Community Outreach: Conducting door-to-door campaigns and engaging faith-based groups and women’s associations.

In addition to campaign content, the training also focused on internal team development, including leadership structure, team building, and project management—equipping members for effective coordination and long-term sustainability.

Mr. Godspower urged participants to see themselves not merely as campaigners but as community change agents and policy advocates. He reaffirmed the commitment of I Care – Save A Soul Initiative and its partners to creating a replicable model of policy-integrated health advocacy across Nigeria.

The salt reduction advocacy campaign is scheduled for formal launch in July 2025, following final stakeholder consultations, baseline community surveys, and engagement with policymakers.

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